Ad-Darr (الضَّارُّ) means The Bringer of Harm. It is name 91 in the well-known list of the 99 Names of Allah. Aḍ-Ḍārr is the One by whose decree harm happens, as a test or a consequence. Scholars insist it is always said with An-Nāfiʿ, so that no one thinks of Allah as harm alone.
The root and its meaning
Ad-Darr comes from the Arabic root ض ر ر (ḍ-r-r), which carries the sense of harm.
Where it is in the Quran
The exact name is not in the Quran. 10:107 says that if Allah touches you with harm, no one removes it but Him.
Surah Yunus 10:107
وَإِن يَمْسَسْكَ ٱللَّهُ بِضُرٍّۢ فَلَا كَاشِفَ لَهُۥٓ إِلَّا هُوَ ۖ وَإِن يُرِدْكَ بِخَيْرٍۢ فَلَا رَآدَّ لِفَضْلِهِۦ ۚ يُصِيبُ بِهِۦ مَن يَشَآءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِۦ ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ
Wa iny yamsaskal laahu bidurrin falaa kaashifa lahoo illaa Huwa wa iny yuridka bikhairin falaa raaadda lifadlih; yuseebu bihee man yashaaa'u min 'ibaadih; wa huwal Ghafoorur Raheem
And if Allah should touch you with adversity, there is no remover of it except Him; and if He intends for you good, then there is no repeller of His bounty. He causes it to reach whom He wills of His servants. And He is the Forgiving, the Merciful
Quran 10:107. Arabic: Uthmani text (Tanzil). English: Sahih International.
Surah Al-An'aam 6:17
وَإِن يَمْسَسْكَ ٱللَّهُ بِضُرٍّۢ فَلَا كَاشِفَ لَهُۥٓ إِلَّا هُوَ ۖ وَإِن يَمْسَسْكَ بِخَيْرٍۢ فَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ قَدِيرٌۭ
Wa iny-yamsaskal laahu bidurrin falaaa kaashifa lahoo illaa Huwa wa iny-yamsaska bikhairin fa Huwa 'alaa kulli shai'in Qadeer
And if Allah should touch you with adversity, there is no remover of it except Him. And if He touches you with good - then He is over all things competent.
Quran 6:17. Arabic: Uthmani text (Tanzil). English: Sahih International.
Calling on Allah by this Name
Scholars mention this Name together with An-Nafi, so that both sides of what Allah does are kept in mind, and it is not used on its own to call on Him. In your dua, ask for what fits its meaning. For example: "O Allah, remove from me the harm that only You can remove."
- Quran 10:107, translation by Sahih International.
- Quran 6:17, translation by Sahih International.
Our teachers will check the Arabic, transliteration and meanings on this page before launch.
The rulings on this page are pending review by the scholars on our team.